Meet Our Team
Our staff works hard to keep our programs running. With the help of countless volunteers,
they are constantly doing their best to ensure the best programs for children.
Mai-Lynn Sahd, MSW
Executive Director
Mai-Lynn Abel Sahd is one of 12 adoptees of the Abel family, founders of Brittany’s Hope. Adopted at the age of 8 from Viet Nam, her background as an adoptee led her to pursue a career in the nonprofit field. Mai-Lynn obtained her undergraduate degree from Elizabethtown College and her Masters in International and Community Development from Monmouth University. Mai-Lynn’s professional experience has included working as a birth parent counselor and multi-cultural counselor for survivors of human trafficking and torture/asylum seekers. In her free time, Mai-Lynn enjoys traveling and spending time cooking for others. Mai-Lynn can be reached at sahdm@brittanyshope.org.
Dana Myers
Director of Charitable Giving
Dana is a lifelong resident of Lancaster County. She is a graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School and Loyola University; Dana has spent a career in Marketing & Development sharing the good being done in the world. Dana is an avid runner, a passion she shares with her husband and 5 children, of whom Dana is their #1 fan. Dana can be reached at myersd@brittanyshope.org.
Paula Tobias
Adoption Grant Coordinator
A native Pennsylvanian, Paula fell in love with kids at a very young age. Inspired by a neighborhood friend who suffered from epilepsy, she quickly developed a deep passion for helping others. This resolve stuck with her through college, leading her to get an undergraduate degree in Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice , at York College of Pennsylvania. Over 30 years later, Paula provides assistance to the Brittany’s Hope team and is happy spending time with her family and friends, playing sports,coaching her kids, and cheering on the Steelers. Paula can be reached at tobiasp@brittanyshope.org
Alicia Kautz
Finance Coordinator
Alicia’s passion for helping others has led to over twenty years with nonprofit organizations both nationally and locally. She has vast experience in financial, administrative, fundraising, and community outreach areas. Alicia believes her compassion with service to others led her to obtain a degree in Allied Health from Yorktowne Business Institute. She has two adopted children and can appreciate the effort needed to help children find their forever family. When Alicia is not playing with numbers, you will find her spending time with her family, baking, and enjoying nature at the family cabin. Alicia can be reached at kautza@brittanyshope.org.
Rachel Yoder
Creative Coordinator
Rachel is one of 9 adoptees and is the only one to be internationally adopted with the help of the Brittany’s Hope Adoption Grant. She has always had a desire to carry on the blessings he had been given and share peoples’ stories. Her desire led to her obtaining an undergraduate degree in Video Production. Rachel has a special place in her heart for orphanages and adoption as she remembers where her roots came from and now has come full circle back to Brittany’s Hope. She loves to learn new things in her free time and spend time with friends and family. Rachel can be reached at yoderr@brittanyshope.org
Mason Podgers
Creative and Technical Coordinator
A native to northeastern PA, Mason is a 2023 graduate from Elizabethtown College with a B.A. in Graphic Design and minors in Communications and Fine Art. He has always had a passion for helping others thrive and succeed, especially children. The mission of Brittany’s Hope is one that Mason is honored to be a part of. When not designing media, Mason loves football, cooking and baking, and watching movies. Mason can be reached at podgersm@brittanyshope.org
Le Thi Thu Hong
Viet Nam Program Director
Hong resides in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. Her true passion in life is to help people. She graduated from Ho Chi Minh Economic University and started working in humanitarian work in 2003. Hong fell in love with this type of work, and 17 years later, she is still dedicating herself to improving the lives of the poor and underprivileged people of Vietnam, especially orphans and children in need. In her free time, Hong’s other interests include volunteering for good causes, traveling, nature, and, of course, spending time with her family. Hong can be reached at hong@brittanyshope.org.
Bui Thi Huyen
Viet Nam Program Assistant
Orphaned at a young age, Huyen grew up with a desire to help others, especially those with similar backgrounds to her own. With the support of Ha Tinh Village and Brittany’s Hope, Huyen graduated from Vinh University in 2019 with a BA in English, ready to make a difference in the lives of orphaned and at-risk children in Viet Nam. After completing an extensive internship at the Vietnam office of Brittany’s Hope, Huyen’s new role enables her to work with the very program that helped her get to this point, giving back to her community. When outside the office, Huyen loves to read, play with dogs, travel, and play sports. You can reach Huyen at Huyen@brittanyshope.org.